30 Sep Causes of Truck Accidents

Truck accidents can be devastating, resulting in severe injuries and extensive property damage. When a driver operates such a large vehicle, there is no room for mistakes. Unfortunately, in many cases, trucking companies do not prioritize your safety. When this happens, you are at much higher risk of being in a serious truck accident.

Immediately identifying the cause of the truck accident that injured you or a loved one is critical to bringing a personal injury claim. Proving the truck driver’s liability is vital to successfully obtaining a personal injury settlement or award. The cause of the crash may not be readily apparent right after impact, and it may take extensive investigation and evidence gathering before determining causation. Hence, having a knowledgeable truck accident attorney on the case immediately is imperative. 

A lawyer experienced in truck accident cases can help you understand your rights, gather evidence, negotiate with insurance companies, and ultimately work towards securing the compensation you deserve. Call a knowledgeable Coral Springs truck accident lawyer at Cindy Goldstein Law at (954)346-5420 to learn more about your legal rights after a crash involving a commercial vehicle.

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Truck Accident Causes – Key Takeaways

• Several things can go wrong to cause truck accidents—in some cases, there will be more than one contributing cause for the crash.
• Trucking companies are not always devoted to safety, no matter how much they assert they are, because they are in business to make money.  Making money often means keeping overhead and business expenses low.
• Trucking companies may put reckless or inexperienced drivers on the road and/or pressure experienced ones to make deliveries on time. 
• Truck drivers may drive the truck while exhausted or sleepy, causing or contributing to their negligence. 
• An experienced truck accident attorney can help you learn the cause of the accident and gather the evidence to be your advocate.
• You should speak to a truck accident lawyer to learn whether you have a potential claim or lawsuit against the trucking company or another defendant.

 

How Inexperienced Truck Drivers Cause Accidents

Inexperienced truck drivers are a significant factor in many commercial vehicle accidents. Driving a large truck requires specialized skills beyond operating a standard passenger vehicle. Inexperienced drivers may struggle handling heavy loads, braking safely, navigating tight turns, or reacting to sudden traffic changes. Truck driving is even more challenging due to the long hours trucks spend on the road and the speeds, increasing the likelihood of accidents.

Additionally, there is a shortage of available truck drivers. Those with experience command higher rates than trucking companies are willing to pay. Trucking companies that hire drivers without adequate training or supervision contribute directly to these risks. Inexperienced drivers may also be unfamiliar with federal safety regulations, including hours-of-service rules, which should prevent fatigue. Without proper guidance, they might make dangerous decisions such as speeding, following too closely, or misjudging distances.

Fatigued Driving and Hours of Service Violations

Fatigued driving is one of the leading causes of truck accidents, and violations of federal Hours of Service regulations often play a central role. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) limits how long truck drivers can operate without rest to prevent exhaustion-related accidents. When trucking companies pressure drivers to exceed these limits to meet tight delivery schedules, the risk of crashes rises dramatically.

Fatigue impairs reaction time, judgment, and alertness, making even minor mistakes potentially catastrophic when operating a massive commercial vehicle. Drivers may drift out of lanes, misjudge stopping distances, or fail to notice hazards in time to prevent collisions. HOS violations endanger the truck driver and everyone else on the road.

Trucking companies that ignore these regulations can be liable for accidents caused by fatigued drivers. Investigating HOS records is critical in establishing negligence and pursuing compensation for victims of truck accidents.

Poor Vehicle Maintenance Can Lead to Truck Accidents

Trucking companies lose money when they remove their vehicles from the road. Even though they have a legal obligation only to put roadworthy trucks on the highways, they may still cut corners if they have the chance.

Poor vehicle maintenance is a major contributor to truck accidents, as commercial trucks rely on properly functioning mechanical systems to operate safely. Trucking companies are legally responsible for ensuring that brakes, tires, lights, steering, and other critical components are regularly inspected and maintained. Failure to do so can result in mechanical failures on the road, leading to catastrophic crashes.

For example, worn-out brakes may prevent a truck from stopping in time, tire blowouts can cause loss of control, and malfunctioning lights reduce visibility for other drivers. Overloaded or improperly secured cargo can also compromise vehicle stability. When trucking companies neglect these responsibilities, they create serious hazards for everyone on the road. Victims of truck accidents caused by poor maintenance may have the legal right to compensation, and proving negligence often requires a thorough investigation of maintenance records and inspections.

Speeding and Reckless Driving Contribute to Truck Accidents

Speeding and reckless driving are significant factors in truck accidents, often magnifying the severity of crashes due to the size and weight of commercial vehicles. Trucks require longer stopping distances than passenger cars, and excessive speed reduces a driver’s ability to react to sudden hazards, such as traffic slowdowns, debris, or adverse weather conditions.

Reckless behaviors, such as aggressive lane changes, tailgating, and unsafe passing, further increase the likelihood of collisions. Truck drivers under pressure to meet tight delivery schedules may drive recklessly or exceed speed limits, putting everyone on the road at risk. High-speed crashes involving trucks are particularly dangerous, frequently resulting in severe injuries or fatalities for other motorists.

Trucking companies that fail to enforce safe driving practices or monitor drivers’ behaviors can be liable for accidents caused by speeding and recklessness. Investigating driver logs, GPS data, and eyewitness accounts is often essential to establishing negligence in these cases.

Cargo-Related Causes of Truck Accidents

Cargo-related issues are a common cause of truck accidents. Trucks frequently carry heavy or oversized loads, and improper handling of this cargo can create dangerous conditions on the road. Overloaded trucks, for example, are harder to control, have longer stopping distances, and are more prone to tipping or jackknifing during turns.

Improperly secured cargo is another significant risk factor. Loose or shifting loads can destabilize a truck, causing it to swerve unexpectedly or even overturn. In some cases, cargo may fall onto the roadway, creating hazards for other drivers and triggering multi-vehicle collisions. Certain types of cargo, such as hazardous materials, can cause additional risks, including chemical spills or fires in the event of an accident.

Trucking companies have a legal obligation to ensure that workers load, balance, and secure cargo according to federal and state regulations. Failure to follow these rules constitutes negligence and can make the company liable for resulting accidents. Investigating cargo-related crashes often requires reviewing shipping records, inspection logs, and expert testimony to establish how the improper cargo handling contributed to the accident.

Weather and Environmental Causes of Truck Accidents

Weather and environmental conditions play a significant role in many truck accidents, often creating hazards that are difficult for even experienced drivers to manage. Rain, snow, ice, fog, and high winds can reduce visibility, decrease tire traction, and make road surfaces slippery, increasing the likelihood of collisions. Due to their size and weight, trucks require longer stopping distances, and poor weather can exacerbate the challenges of controlling these massive vehicles.

Environmental factors such as poorly maintained roads, potholes, uneven pavement, and construction zones contribute to truck accidents. Debris on the road, sudden lane closures, or unclear signage can cause truck drivers to make abrupt maneuvers, increasing the risk of rollovers, jackknifing, or multi-vehicle collisions.

Trucking companies are responsible for ensuring that their drivers receive adequate training to handle adverse weather conditions and that vehicles can operate safely in such environments. Failure to provide proper guidance, schedule adjustments, or safety equipment can constitute negligence. Additionally, drivers must adhere to federal and state regulations regarding safe driving speeds and rest periods, particularly critical in hazardous conditions.

The Lack of a Compliance Culture at a Trucking Company Can Put You at Risk

Trucking companies must always foster a culture of compliance with trucking rules and regulations. Otherwise, their drivers are a risk to everyone else on the road. Unfortunately, trucking companies often cut corners in the name of profits. Their foremost objective is ensuring timely deliveries to keep their customers happy, and meeting this goal may require that they violate the law in many ways. The trucking company may pressure its driver to make good time on the road, even if it means speeding or violating hours of service regulations. Trucking companies may take shortcuts in maintenance and cargo loading, raising the risk of an accident.

The Trucking Company’s Hiring and Retention Practices Raise the Risk of Accidents

Negligent hiring and retention are significant factors in many truck accidents. Trucking companies have a legal duty to carefully screen drivers before employment, including reviewing driving records, accident histories, criminal backgrounds, and drug and alcohol testing results. Hiring drivers with a history of reckless driving, DUIs, or repeated traffic violations significantly increases the risk of accidents on the road.

Retention issues occur when trucking companies fail to monitor their drivers’ ongoing performance or ignore repeated safety violations. Allowing unsafe drivers to remain on the road can lead to preventable crashes, especially with the added pressure to meet tight delivery schedules. Companies that overlook proper training, supervision, or compliance with federal safety regulations create dangerous conditions for their drivers and the public.

Victims of truck accidents caused by negligent hiring or retention may hold the trucking company accountable, often requiring a thorough investigation into employment records, training practices, and regulatory compliance to establish liability. These cases are not always easy to win because you must prove what the trucking company knew or should have known about the dangerous propensity or adverse driving history of the individual driver involved in the accident. You can file a negligent hiring and retention lawsuit regardless of whether the truck driver was an employee or an independent contractor.

Frequently Asked Questions about Truck Accidents

How much is my truck accident case worth?

The value of your case depends on confirming liability on the adverse driver, the severity of your injuries, and the level of insurance coverage and assets to pay for them.

How long will my truck accident case take?

Factors that contribute to the length of the case include the length of time of your medical treatment, and whether the insurance company negotiates a reasonable pre-suit settlement.  It is usually prudent to wait to settle your case until you have completed all of your treatment so that the insurance company is responsible for all of your necessary medical bills and true prognosis.  Additionally, if the case successfully resolves pre-suit, you can avoid the lengthy litigation process.  Because of the stakes in your case, truck accident lawsuits are often lengthy in nature.

How do I pay a truck accident lawyer?

A truck accident attorney works on a contingency fee basis. This means no attorneys fees and no costs, unless your attorney obtains a settlement or wins your case. The contingency fees and costs are deducted from your gross settlement.

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